The architectural designs of both the building and
exhibitions are primarily scenographic readings of oil
installations in the North Sea and the geology of oil.

The stone clad main building is an interpretation of the
Norwegian bedrock where the forces of nature, through hundreds of
millions of years, have passed sediment to the North Sea, creating
the basis for oil. The exhibition hall resembles a space in the
landscape facing the sea where the black slate floors allude to the
petrified slate and limestone sediment on the bottom of the North
Sea, where raw oil is found in similar types of stone.

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

Three cylindrical platforms stand in the sea. From the
exhibition hall and these cylinders there is a stunning view
towards the Stavanger fjord, a wharf for oil rigs, and further
towards the North Sea itself. Inland views are of the massive
Ryfylke Mountains.

The building is situated in the Stavanger harbor basin close to
the historic town center. In contrast to the picturesque wooden
houses, the museum is a monumental, organic structure. The main
building is like a huge block of stone, while the cylinders in the
sea are like ships or platforms at the dock.

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

Even though the building contrasts with its environs, it has
geometric references to buildings in the vicinity, with their long
and narrow storehouses. Lines of vision and spatial configurations
relating to the town's master plan are preserved.

The museum's skewed angles reflect the silhouettes of the wooden
houses. A speedboat terminal close to the plaza in front of the
museum, as proposed in the winning scheme, has not yet been built.
Until it is, the square seems large and unbounded.

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

Beyond the collection of artifacts, the museum is an experience
in itself. The cylindrical platforms create excitement as one
wanders from the check in stairs in the exhibition hall through the
cylindrical tube that alludes to a helicopter journey to the North
Sea.

The outer cylinder is the life on the platform, with a drilling
tower and drilling rod. The inner platform plunges into the water.
Audio visual effects and mirrored walls in a 14 meter (42 foot )
high, cubic well imply being at the bottom of the sea. Materials
and architecture are closely entwined.

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

The monolithic main building has an outer shell/casing of dark
gray Barents Blue gneiss from Varanger. In some areas, such as the
entrance and two staircases, the casing/shell has a wave like form,
like a mountain scrubbed by glaciers.

The wave motif is a formal theme that is repeated in the glazed
facade of the exhibition hall. Inside the gneiss shell/casing is a
construction layer-black, speckled concrete black granite. The
entire interior of the main building can be interpreted as a vast
cave where the floors are 'decks' with wooden ceilings, while the
flooring of the ground floor is black syenite.

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

The main building is organized around muraled core spaces that
house secondary functions. The flooring of the exhibition hall is
of black 'Otta' slate, found again in the base of the facade. The
hall's ceilings are alu zinc metal sheets.

Parts of the elevations facing the town core are in acid
resistant stainless steel sheets suspended like a screen connected
to a glass strip at floor level. The gray and black steel clad hall
creates a neutral backdrop for exhibitions.

Photo: Courtesy Lunde &
Løvseth

The foundation of one of the three steel cylindrical platforms
gave in. This made it necessary to apply a series of unfortunate
cross bracing which, hopefully, will be removed soon by redoing
foundation work on one of the piles. The elevations of the
cylinders are sheets of acid resistant stainless steel sheets with
gray lacquered aluminum accents.

The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is the result of an open
architectural competition held in 1992. The building was financed
by the State, Stavanger municipality, Rogaland County, and private
sponsors.